Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-27
iHE FATAL FLAMES IN PARIS.
Americans Tell the story of the Friyh,tu,
rahic-1reat Uncertainty as to the
Number of hilled and Wounded.

raFls pollce authorities state that so far A
learned today seventeen persons lost their
lives last night in the FIRE at the Opera Com
ique, and one hundred and ten were burned
ana otherwise wounded. 1t is impossible as
set 70 search the ruins, but when this is done
feared tnaf the death list will be augu-
mented considerably.
Charles A. Duviviere. a New York NOR.
chant, who with his son was in the oners
house when the FIRE broke out, saws that at
the nrst sign Of dagger he and his son arose
to leave the theatre. NJ. Taskin, the tenar
OF the company, was trying to assure the au-
dlence that there was no danger, but the
burning stage belied his words and nothing
could stop the wild panic that set 10 immedi.
ateiy. Mr.. Duviviere thinks tha, everybody
in the main auditorium must have been fear
fully bruised in the crush He is positive
that many of the people in the galleries were
suffocated.
W. j. Ayres, another New Yorker, who
with bis wife and daughter and Mr.. Rutter
occupied boK AT the opera. says that two
minutes of valuable time were wasted bv
those in the audience. The knowledge of a
fast approaching fire in their rear made
frightened peoplr crush and push the harder.
Mr.. Ayres's party reached the open air after
terrible experience in the panic stricken
crowd and after many narrow escapes from
oelng trampled on. Mr Ayres thinks that
the nre must have been burning for some
tlme, ana where his party sat the flames were
visible some minutes before the alarm was
communicated to the audience by the acci-
dental discovery of one of the singers
M. Taskin. the tenor, says that when he
first saw the fire he thought it was nothing
but what could be extnguished by the EN-.
ployes, and, wishing TO avert panic, he told
the audience TO keep their seats In escap-
log from the blazing building he saw many
apparently lfeless bodies in the galleries.
About an hour after the fire was discovered
the crowd in the neighoorhood of the opera
house saw two men jump from the burning
roof. When their dead bodies were picked
up it was found that they were employees of
the theatre who had evidently been cut off
from all egress by the flames and driven to
the roof.
The bodies of ballet dancers who lost their
lives by the fire. are lying in heaps in the
ruins of the the atre. The fremen assert that
many bodies are lying IN the upper CALLER
les.
later despatch saws that the number of
persons killed greatly exceed all previous
estimates. An excited crowd surrounds the
ruins, which are guarded by military cor,
don Many very distressing scenes are wit
messed
At two o'clock this afternoon twenty bodies
| in a terribly mutilated condition had been
recovered from the ruins. The remains are
principally those of ballet girls, choristers
and machinsts.
les were recovered from the ruins of the The
atre Comique. rhe search for victims of
the confiagara'ion continues.
The remains of three men and tw lwome q
were found in the stage box where the vic.
tins had taken refuge. 1t was ascertained
that many bodies lie in the upper galleries
| Late this afternoon the bodies of eighteen
| ladies, all ia full dress. were found together
at the bottom of the staircase leading from
the second story. These ladies all had es
corts to the theatre, hut 10 remains of men
were found anywhere near the women. The
| library attached to the theatre was entirely
| destroyed with its contents, including many
valuable scores.
Today one hundred and ffty-six missing
persons were inquired for by relatives, who
| are supposed to have persisted in the flames.
The bottom OF the theatre is flooded with wa
ter to the depth of five feet. Sixty bodies
were found floating in the water by the fire.
men.
The search for the bodies was resumed to.
night and a number were exhuued. The
official statement says that fifty bodies have
been already recovered.
| NJ. Reivellon, speaking in the chamber
of deputies, this afternoon estimated that at
least two hundred lost their lives in the fire.
The Opera Comique was insured for 81 ,000,-
600. The chamber Of deputies voted to credit
two million francs for the relief of the suffer
ers.
The finding of charred remains still con
tinues. The remains are recognizable only
by trnkets.
Among the audience at the Opera Comique
last night were General Boulanger, Gen. Saus
ser, Gen. Thibaudim, NJ. Goblet, NJ. Berheri
and Marquis Ferronais, prefect of police.
All escaped unhurt.
The singer had miraculous escape from
the dressing room at the top of the building
He says the wind kept the flames off that
part of the building, but a river of molten
lead poured from the roof, the course OF
which he diverted with board to prevent
the weight from carrying d"vn the shaky
floor The officials are endeavorlng to un
derrate the loss of lite. The number of bod
les found has alarmed the public. The thea
tire Chateau ID. Eau announces perform
ance tor the benefit of the sufferers, on Mon
day.